Summary Of Evidence

Support for TTFT in the treatment of newly diagnosed GBM stems from a study by Stupp et al. (2017), also referred to as the EF-14 study. The EF-14 study was a randomized, open-label trial of 695 patients with histologically-confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (World Health Organization (WHO) grade IV astrocytoma) whose tumor was resected or biopsied and had completed concomitant radiochemotherapy and TTFT. Of the 695 randomized patients, 637 (92%) completed the trial. Median progression-free survival from randomization was 6.7 months in the TTFT-temozolomide group vs 4.0 months in the temozolomide-alone group (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.52-0.76; P < .001). Median overall survival was 20.9 months in the TTFT-temozolomide group vs 16.0 months in the temozolomide-alone group (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.53-0.76; P < .001). Systemic adverse events were similar between the two study arms. Mild to moderate skin toxicity underneath the transducer arrays occurred in 52% of patients who received TTFT-temozolomide vs no patients who received temozolomide alone.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network assigns TTFT a Category 1 recommendation as a treatment option for newly diagnosed GBM, following initial maximal debulking surgery (when feasible), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Analysis of Evidence

Background

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive type of brain cancer. It is rare, with an incidence of 3.21 cases per 100,000 population per year in the US.

Alternating electric fields are produced by a pulse generator and transmitted by ceramic transducers placed on a patient’s head. Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (TTFT) uses alternating electric fields to target cancer cells. The electric fields reportedly attract and repel charged proteins during cancer cell division. Cellular proteins, because they are highly polarized, are presumed to be prevented from moving to their correct locations thus disrupting cancer cell division.

NEWLY DIAGNOSED GBM

In October 2015 the FDA expanded the marketing indications for TTFT to include newly diagnosed GBM (see https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm?id=P100034S013). In 2018 the DME MACs received a request to cover TTFT for newly diagnosed GBM.

Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC)

Following an independent review of the literature, the DME MACs assembled a 13-member specialty-focused CAC, comprised of a national panel of neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons and experts in the field of oncologic treatment. The CAC meeting was held on March 6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. Five (5) Key Questions were discussed by the CAC members, and confidence in each Key Question scored (Chair and Industry Representative were excluded from scoring). Confidence was rated on a scale of 1-5, with 1 indicative of low confidence and 5 indicating high confidence.

The following is a summary of the CAC Panel scoring for each Key Question and the related discussion.

CONCLUSION

The use of TTFT for the treatment of newly diagnosed GBM appears to be gaining acceptance in the neuro-oncology community in the United States. The coverage requirements outlined above reflect the currently published literature with regard to criteria that best ensure optimal outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with newly diagnosed GBM.

RECURRENT GBM

In April 2011 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of the NovoTTF-100A (later rebranded Optune^®) for the treatment of recurrent GBM. The original LCD for TTFT was effective in August 2014, following an Open Meeting and solicitation of public comments. The DME MACs determined that, based on the strength and quality of the evidence available at that time, TTFT was not reasonable and necessary for the treatment of GBM.

In 2018 the DME MACs received a request to reconsider the decision on recurrent GBM. The requestor, Novocure, did not submit new evidence in support of revised coverage for recurrent disease. Consequently, pursuant to Chapter 13 of the CMS Program Integrity Manual (CMS Pub. 100-08), the DME MACs determined that the request was invalid.

For any item to be covered by Medicare, it must 1) be eligible for a defined Medicare benefit category, 2) be reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member, and 3) meet all other applicable Medicare statutory and regulatory requirements.

The purpose of a Local Coverage Determination (LCD) is to provide information regarding “reasonable and necessary” criteria based on Social Security Act § 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions.

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement:

• The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

• The LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

• Refer to the Supplier Manual for additional information on documentation requirements.

• Refer to the DME MAC web sites for additional bulletin articles and other publications related to this LCD.

For the items addressed in this LCD, the “reasonable and necessary” criteria, based on Social Security Act § 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions, are defined by the following coverage indications, limitations and/or medical necessity.

INITIAL COVERAGE FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME:

Tumor treatment field therapy (E0766) is covered for the treatment of newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) only when all of the following criteria are met:

1. The beneficiary has histologically confirmed (World Health Organization (WHO) grade IV astrocytoma), newly diagnosed, supratentorial GBM; and,

2. The beneficiary has received initial treatment with maximal debulking surgery (when feasible), followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy; and,

3. Tumor treatment field therapy is initiated within 7 weeks from the last dose of concomitant chemotherapy or radiotherapy, whichever is later; and,

4. The beneficiary has no evidence of progression by Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria; and,

5. The beneficiary has a Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) of at least 70; and,

6. The beneficiary will use TTFT for an average of 18 hours per day.

If all of the coverage criteria above are not met, claims for code E0766 will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

CONTINUED COVERAGE FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED GBM BEYOND THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THERAPY:

Continued coverage of TTFT (E0766) beyond the first three months of therapy requires that no sooner than the 60th day but no later than the 91st day after initiating therapy, the treating practitioner must conduct a clinical re-evaluation and document that the beneficiary is continuing to use and is benefiting from TTFT.

Documentation of clinical benefit is demonstrated by:

1. In-person clinical re-evaluation by the treating practitioner; and,

2. Objective evidence of adherence to therapy, reviewed by the treating practitioner.

Adherence to therapy is defined as the use of TTFT for an average of 18 hours per day (excluding days the treating practitioner has documented a medical need to limit or interrupt treatment).

If the above criteria are not met, continued coverage of TTFT will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

If the practitioner re-evaluation does not occur until after the 91st day but the evaluation demonstrates that the beneficiary is benefiting from TTFT as defined in criteria 1 and 2 above, continued coverage of TTFT will commence with the date of that re-evaluation. See Policy Specific Documentation Requirements in the LCD-related Policy Article, located in the Related Local Coverage Documents section of this LCD, for information about KX modifier use.

RECURRENT GBM

Tumor treatment field therapy (E0766) will be denied as not reasonable and necessary for the treatment of recurrent GBM.

OTHER USES

The use of TTFT for any indications other than newly diagnosed GBM will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

BENEFICIARIES ENTERING MEDICARE

For beneficiaries who are undergoing treatment with TTFT for newly diagnosed, supratentorial GBM prior to enrollment in Fee-For-Service (FFS) Medicare and are seeking Medicare coverage of TTFT, coverage will be provided if all of the following coverage requirements are met:

1. The beneficiary has been receiving TTFT following initial maximal debulking surgery (if feasible) followed by chemotherapy/radiotherapy for histologically confirmed newly diagnosed GBM; and,

2. Clinical Evaluation – Following enrollment in FFS Medicare, the beneficiary must have an in-person evaluation by their treating practitioner who documents in the beneficiary’s medical record that:

   1. The beneficiary is adherent with the use of TTFT for an average of 18 hours per day; and,

   2. The beneficiary is deriving benefit from the therapy.

If all of the above are not met, the claim will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

GENERAL

A Standard Written Order (SWO) must be communicated to the supplier before a claim is submitted. If the supplier bills for an item addressed in this policy without first receiving a completed SWO, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

For Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) base items that require a Written Order Prior to Delivery (WOPD), the supplier must have received a signed SWO before the DMEPOS item is delivered to a beneficiary. If a supplier delivers a DMEPOS item without first receiving a WOPD, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary. Refer to the LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

For DMEPOS base items that require a WOPD, and also require separately billed associated options, accessories, and/or supplies, the supplier must have received a WOPD which lists the base item and which may list all the associated options, accessories, and/or supplies that are separately billed prior to the delivery of the items. In this scenario, if the supplier separately bills for associated options, accessories, and/or supplies without first receiving a completed and signed WOPD of the base item prior to delivery, the claim(s) shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

An item/service is correctly coded when it meets all the coding guidelines listed in CMS HCPCS guidelines, LCDs, LCD-related Policy Articles, or DME MAC articles. Claims that do not meet coding guidelines shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary/incorrectly coded.

Proof of delivery (POD) is a Supplier Standard and DMEPOS suppliers are required to maintain POD documentation in their files. Proof of delivery documentation must be made available to the Medicare contractor upon request. All services that do not have appropriate proof of delivery from the supplier shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.